Increased Fines for Unauthorised School Absences in England

Parents in England are now facing increased fines if their children are taken out of school without permission, as new guidance from the Department of Education comes into effect. The Department of Education announced earlier this year that fines would be considered for unauthorised absences when a child misses five days of school. The fines for school absences have risen from £60 to £80, with the amount increasing to £160 if left unpaid within 21 days, as opposed to £120 previously.

Nearly 400,000 penalty notices were issued in England in the 2022-23 academic year for unauthorised school absences, a significant increase from pre-pandemic levels. The majority of these fines, around 89.3%, were attributed to unauthorised holidays taken by families during term times, searching for cheaper vacation options.

Alternative Actions

If a parent is fined again within a three-year period, the penalty stands at £160 from the start. At this point, a third penalty notice cannot be issued. Instead, alternative actions such as prosecution should be considered. Schools and local authorities are now expected to adopt a “support-first” approach to help pupils and families overcome barriers to attendance. This may involve agreeing on a formal attendance contract or resorting to family court orders if necessary, escalating to fines if all other methods fail.

Despite the government’s emphasis on the importance of good attendance, criticism has arisen regarding the effectiveness of fines as a deterrent for persistent absence. Many argue that fines are a “blunt tool” that do little to address the underlying issues. Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, expressed surprise at the government’s focus on increasing fines amidst other pressing issues within the education system. He highlighted the current challenges faced by schools, such as teacher shortages and deteriorating facilities, suggesting that fines may not be the most effective solution.

On the other hand, proponents of the fines argue that a clear stance needs to be taken against unauthorised school absences, particularly those related to term-time holidays. Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, stressed the detrimental impact of term-time holidays on a child’s education. Not only does it disrupt the learning process for the individual child, but it also places additional strain on teachers to help students catch up with missed lessons.

The increased fines for unauthorised school absences in England have sparked debate regarding their effectiveness in addressing persistent absence issues. While some view fines as a necessary deterrent, others criticize them as an inadequate solution to complex barriers to attendance. Moving forward, it is essential for schools and local authorities to strike a balance between enforcement measures and supportive interventions to promote regular school attendance.